News

" ...For their first revival of the production, Glyndebourne brought back conductor Olivier Dantone, and assembled a cast which showcased the modern counter-tenor revival by including a total of four in the cast. . Unusually for a modern performance of a Handel opera, all the male characters were played by men ...

As with previous years, the singing competition will take place during the "Innsbruck Festival of Early Music"

"The International Singing Competition for Baroque Opera Pietro Antonio Cesti will take place in Innsbruck for the fifth time. Named after the Italian composer Pietro Antonio Cesti, who turned Innsbruck into a centre for the Italian opera north of the Alps in the mid-17th century, young singers from all over the world with a special talent and training will compete in the varied field that is the baroque opera for participation in the final concert on 21 August. ... "

If you are in the region of Innsbruck, you may want to consider attending some of the concerts at this year's Innsbruck Festival of Early Music.

"The stars were favourable for music in 1685: Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frederic Handel and Domenico Scarlatti were born. The three bright stars that shone over the baroque era are the focus of the 2014 Innsbruck Festival. Presenting masterpieces from the opera, the church, the concert hall and the chamber. To round off the picture, there will also be music by the father figures and teachers of Bach, Handel and Scarlatti, by friends and contemporaries as well as by their sons’ generation. ...

A recent reminder from the organisers of the "Festival Alte Musik Knechtsteden" (DE), reminding us that if in the area of Knechtsteden, consider the upcoming Festival concert lineups and symposium dates. (Read on) ...

With the end of its 2013-2014 Nota Bene Baroque Players (NBBP) Concert Season, the NBBPOrganization has proven itself resilient at re-inventing itself and offering it's audience a new and more dynamic approach to performances and community services.

Having reached a low in performance appearances in previous years (3 performances per year), the NBBP Organization undertook a closer look at its potential as the Region of Waterloo's (Ontario Canada) early music orchestra with the result being of a staggering expanded performance schedule of 14 concerts, as well as a number of NBBP-led initiatives. This past 2013-2014 season consisted of performances with a long list of luminaries such as, not only of the Nota Bene Baroque Players (NBBPlayers) but also the birth of its newly formed choir Nota Bene Baroque Singers (NBBSingers) and invited soloists of famed recognition such as: Michael Schade,Daniel Taylor, Agnes Zsigovics, Sean Watson, Baroque trumpetist John Thiessen, organist/harpsichordist Jan Overduin, conductor Howard Dyck (with concertmaster, Baroque violin Julie Baumgartel) as well as up and coming stars Anthea Conway-White Baroque flute and Victoria Melik Baroque violin.

The following is a note sent to all subscribers to the previously called "Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music" encouraging people to re-subscribe to the new newsletter from the rebranded "London Festival of Baroque Music"

"As you may be aware, after 30 years of sponsorship Lufthansa German Airlines has decided to reallocate its philanthropic support to other endeavours. ...

"A curious and unsatisfying reduction of huge music for tiny forces? By no means. These are not, after all, symphonies in the way that Beethoven, let alone Mahler, understood the term, but breezy three-movement affairs which had lately sprung out of an operatic context and were enjoying a new and independent life through the always-unpredictable idiom of C.P.E., who wrote eight such works between 1741 and 1762. Most of them began as symphonies for strings, with wind parts added later when Bach’s orchestra was enlarged. ...

"L’Arpeggiata did not simply perform arrangements of Purcell; rather they created entirely new, highly original, works. Their musicianship, technical prowess and the joy that their shared musical dialogue so obviously inspired, both on the platform and among the audience of the Wigmore Hall, made this performance an absolute delight. ..."

From a recent newsletter item from Harmonia Early Music, an hour-long podcast of anything of "Catherines"

"We’re listening to music for, by or about famous Katies, Catherines, and Katerinas. Next, we’re shining a spotlight on that namesake and getting to know one visionary in the revival of early music: Catherine Mackintosh. ...

"Now in its fourth year, Unquiet Thoughts was and is primarily an outlet for musings on music for the lute and how it does or does not fit into the aesthetics of modern life. In our ever-growing archive of essays, one of the more frequently visited posts posed a handful of questions that asked whether the lute was an appropriate medium for modern sounds. ...

"Anaustia is a popular tune, probably from around the XVII century, found in the archives of the Bolivian Jesuit Missions. This kind of Spanish, Latinamerican Baroque music, based on a local tune, was quite common in the 16th and 17th centuries. The words of the tune are in a local Indian language. ..."

"Yesterday, the XIX. Leipzig International Bach Competition 2014, ended with a concert in the Leipzig Gewandhaus. For ten days, 100 musicians from 28 countries competed in the categories piano, harpsichord and violin/Baroque violin for the title »Bach Prize Winner«. As the youngest finalist, 18-year-old Hilda Huang (USA) won the piano category, Schaghajegh Nosrati (Germany) and Georg Kjurdian (Latvia) came to the second and third position. Jean-Christophe Dijoux (France) achieved the title in the harpsichord final, followed by Olga Pachchenko (Russia) and Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya (Russia). The first prize in the category violin went to Seiji Okamoto (Japan), the second to Marie Radauer-Plank (Austria), and the third to Niek Baar (Netherlands).

"The Rameau Project is a major international multidisciplinary research project devoted to the operas of Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764). With the 250th anniversary of Rameau’s death taking place in 2014, this ambitious venture is uniting international scholars, performers, institutions and organisations to advance our understanding of the most significant composer of the French Enlightenment. ...

News from Dr. Frank Heidlberger (Professor of Music Theory, Chair, Division of Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology, University of North Texas, College of Music) that the journal “Theoria – Historical Aspects of Music Theory” is now online. ...

"Workshops suitable for beginners and more advanced practitioners will include sessions on chant notation, chant by ear, ancient hymnody and psalmody, ornate chanted antiphons, and choral music for contemplative quiet. ...

"The first time you see a claviorganum, you might feel like you’re seeing a mythical creature. Like the part lion-part man griffen, or part girl-part fish mermaid, the clavigorganum is part harpsichord and part organ. ...

For 30 years, the Festival has been lucky enough to benefit from one loyal sponsor: Lufthansa German Airlines. It is with profound gratitude and respect that we acknowledge Lufthansa’s decision to cease funding after the 2014 Festival has ended. But ...

News from ArkivMusic of its "Complete Opera Recordings Clearance" and reminders that the stock is limited "at these low prices". Have a look and you may find some long sought recordings of early music works.

News from Harmonia Sacra and of the Festival EmbarOquement Immédiat 2014 which is already over with a planned June 24th evening to thank volunteers who helped make the festival the success that it was. The upcoming 2014-2015 Hormonia Sacra season will also be announced on the same day, in addition, details of next year's 2015 festival season as well.

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